UH announces two finalists for its next president

HONOLULU — The University of Hawaii announced the selection of two finalists for its next president.

After UH President David Lassner, 69, announced in Sept. 2023 his plans to retire at the end of 2024, the university began its search for a replacement.

On Wednesday, UH’s Board of Regents put forth the selection of Wendy F. Hensel and Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig as finalists for the next president.

Hensel is currently the Executive Vice Chancellor and University Provost for The City University of New York. Before her role at CUNY, she worked at Georgia State University as Dean of the College of Law and later Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School and earned a bachelor’s from Michigan State University.
Vasquez Heilig is currently the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs for Western Michigan University. Before his role at WMU, Vasquez Heilig was the Dean of the College of Education at the University of Kentucky. Vasquez Heilig earned his PhD and master’s degrees from Stanford University and holds additional degrees from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor.

UH will introduce the finalists in a series of meet-and-greets and question-and-answer sessions.

“There was a tremendous amount of interest shown in the president’s position, and now we have two excellent candidates,” said BOR Chair Gabe Lee in a statement. “We are asking all members of the UH ohana and other stakeholders, along with the general public, to participate in the public events and provide feedback on our finalists. That input will be critical as the regents deliberate and select the next UH President.”

After the public events, the regents will interview the candidates. The BOR will declare their final selection by the end of October.

Public event schedule

Wendy F. Hensel

Monday, Sept. 23 – Maui and Kauai

Maui

8–9 a.m.: Open House – UH Maui College, Kaaike Building Rooms 105 BCD

9:30–10:30 a.m.: Campus Forum (Zoom available and recorded) – Kaaike Building Rooms 105 BCD

Kauai

2:00–3 p.m.: Open House – Kauai Community College, Fine Arts Auditorium

3–4 p.m.: Campus Forum (Zoom available and recorded) – Fine Arts Auditorium

Tuesday, Sept. 24 – Hawaii and Oahu

Hawaii Island

8–9 a.m.: Open House – UH Hilo University Classroom Building Room 127 (Rose and Raymond Tseng Terrace)

9:30–10:30 a.m.: Campus Forum (Zoom available and recorded) – UH Hilo Performing Arts Center

Oahu

4–5:30 p.m.: Oahu Campuses Forum – UH Manoa Art Auditorium

Wednesday, September 25 – Oahu

8–9 a.m.: Oahu Campuses Open House – UH Manoa Bachman Hall

Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig

Monday, Sept. 30 – Maui and Kauai